Ross Brawn says he “would love” to work with long-standing Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, despite the pair having had a sometimes tumultuous relationship in the past.
Brawn has been increasingly tipped for a prominent role within F1 management, as new owners Liberty Media assess the series while completing their $4bn (£3.2bn) takeover of the sport.
A report in Auto Bild even claimed the former Ferrari technical director had been signed to eventually replace Ecclestone, who has been kept as CEO by Liberty, though Brawn swiftly moved to deny the speculation.
“I’d love to work with [Ecclestone], actually,” Brawn told ESPN. “It would be fascinating to work with him. Bernie's never accommodated anyone in the past but even Bernie knows he's mortal - we're all mortal. I think he said himself, death and taxes are the only two certainties in life.
“No-one could replace him directly, but could a group of people under his supervision, guidance, start to manage Formula One? Who knows. I don't think there's an individual who could do what Bernie did.”
Talking about his own relationship with the 86-year-old, Brawn added: “I haven't spoken to Bernie since I left the sport [at the end of 2013]…
“We had an understanding, if you like. I probably rankled him on occasion because I stuck to my views and not everyone did. So I think there were times I irritated him. But I always respected what Bernie's achieved.”
Ecclestone said Brawn would be better off accepting a role within the FIA than working with Liberty.
FEATURE: Foul Play or Foul Language
Scene at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix
Mexican Grand Prix - Quotes of the week
15 minutes with ... Nico Rosberg
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Aston Martin’s chief architect and team principal Adrian Newey believes Formula 1’s latest buzzword is…
Fresh from pre-season testing and with a world title now stitched onto his racing overalls,…
On this day in 1979, Jacques Laffite won the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos as…
George Russell is not hiding his appetite for a showdown this season in F1. In…
Williams may have missed the first public glimpse of Formula 1’s bold new era, but…
Mercedes technical director James Allison arrived in Barcelona last week bracing for chaos – and…